Abstract: A defect-free semiconductor device having a stacked layer structure formed on a substrate made of a material different from crystalline silicon, said stacked layer structure comprising an amorphous silicon layer on said substrate as a buffer layer and a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor active layer with a multilayered structure disposed on said amorphous silicon layer, said multilayered structure having at least a first polycrystalline silicon layer in non-junction forming contact with said amorphous silicon layer and a second polycrystalline silicon layer having a conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of said first polycrystalline silicon layer.

Abstract: In a photovoltaic device comprising a conductive base plate having four side edges, at least one conductive foil having a higher conductivity than the conductive base plate is provided in contact with the conductive base plate along at least one side edge of the conductive base plate. The conductive foil is preferably provided on the non-light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic device, and comprises copper as a main ingredient. The conductive foil preferably has a thickness in the range of 70 .mu.m to 150 .mu.m and is provided along each of two side edges of the conductive base plate facing each other. The conductive base plate is a base plate made of stainless steel. In the photovoltaic device and a manufacture method thereof, the conductive foil and the conductive base plate are connected together by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a thin film solar cell, a thin semiconductor film serving as a power generating layer is formed on a substrate via an intermediate layer, a plurality of holes are formed penetrating through the thin semiconductor film and reaching the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is etched away through the through-holes, separating the thin semiconductor film from the substrate with high-efficiency. Since stress is hardly applied to the thin semiconductor film during the separation process, cracking and breaking of the semiconductor film is avoided. Further, since the surface of the substrate is maintained in good condition, the substrate can be reused, resulting in a reduction in the production cost.

Abstract: In a device designed as a rotatably mounted platform (a) for recovering solar electricity, the focusing roof layer (3) further deflects the incident radiation so that the light beams (122, 123, 126) formed by the concentrating optical system are incident approximately perpendicularly on the radiation converter (112) arranged underneath.

Abstract: A bifacial solar cell including a semiconductor substrate wafer, a first active area of a first conductivity type provided on at least a part of a first side of the wafer and a second active area of a second conductivity type provided on a second side of the wafter, the edge face of the wafter and the periphery of said first side of the wafter. The first active area and second active area are separated by a distance .lambda., the distance .lambda. allowing a leakage current to flow between the first and second active areas.

Abstract: The conductive paste according to the present invention, used when forming an n-type layer formed on one surface of a p-type silicon semiconductor substrate and a conducting electrode, is characterized in that the conductive paste comprises silver powder, glass frit, silver phosphate and an organic vehicle, and the mixing ratio of the glass frit per 100 weight units of silver powder is within the range of not less than 1 weight unit and not more than 5 weight units and the mixing ratio of the silver phosphate per 100 weight units of silver powder is within the range of not less than 0.5 weight units and less than 5 weight units. As a result, a conductive paste with which large-scale reduction of the labor required when forming electrodes is obtained, a solar cell in which grid electrodes comprising this conductive paste are formed, and a fabrication method for the same are provided.

Abstract: A solar cell module is provided which comprises a photoactive semiconductor layer as a photovoltaic element and a transparent surface coating material provided on the light-introducing side, the surface coating material containing a light stabilizer comprising an alkylated tertiary amine compound. This surface coating layer for the solar cell module has high weatherability and high heat resistance, thereby minimizing the deterioration of the performance of the photovoltaic element in long-term use, and protects the module from external impact.

Abstract: A light weight photovoltaic concentrator having a foldable, easily deployed structure for concentrating solar rays on solar cells for generating electricity is disclosed. The photovoltaic concentrator features a concentrator which can be inflated, for ease of deployment, to a shape for reflecting sunlight onto solar cells. The solar cells are protected from overheating by a protective infrared coating and by being attached to a heat pipe with a fin for radiating excess heat. The inflatable concentrator is inflated by gas stored in the central arm which supports one end of the concentrator. The concentrator is inflated until the epicenters of the front and rear surfaces reach a specified distance and the concentrator is thereafter maintained at this position by addition of additional gas as needed to compensate for leakage. The concentrator may have a means of stiffening the inflated reflective surface by chemical changes activated after the concentrator is deployed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film forming method and apparatus which are capable of continuously changing the density or composition in the direction of film thickness of a deposited film, and which are capable of obtaining high quality films in a stable manner.

Abstract: A solar cell system including at least one large-area, amorphous, thin-layer solar cell, at least one electrical voltage converter for increasing the level of the electrical voltage of the electrical current, which is produced by the solar cell, to a level required by a load, and a plurality of current collectors connecting the solar cell with the voltage converter.

Abstract: A solar battery module in which at least the front, light incident side of the photovoltaic elements is covered with a transparent organic polymer resin, and a resin film of a material different from the organic polymer resin, is inserted between at least one metallic member which interconnects adjacent elements and the organic polymer resin on the photovoltaic element.

Abstract: A method of forming metal lines such as titanium and aluminum on a semiconductor wafer by sputtering at a high temperature, preferably in the range of approximately 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. This method decreases the contact resistance between the layers while reducing the number of processing steps.

Abstract: A process of making an orienting layer on a substrate for aligning liquid crystal molecules, especially of a large-scale liquid crystal display, includes moving the substrate (14) at a distance of 50 to 100 mm from a target (11) past the target in a substrate motion direction (15) and providing the target with a length l in a direction perpendicular to the substrate motion direction and parallel to the substrate surface (S) at least equal to the width s of the substrate (14); sputtering material from the target (11) onto the substrate surface (S) by forming a gas plasma in a vacuum chamber containing the target; and orienting the target (14) relative to the substrate so that the cathode surface (CS) of the target is inclined at a surface inclination angle a of from 60.degree. to 85.degree. to the substrate surface so that the material is sputtered obliquely onto the substrate surface to form the orienting layer.

Abstract: A method of sputter deposition for improved side wall and bottom coverage of high aspect ratio features on a substrate includes alternatingly exposing the substrate having high aspect ratio features to a collimated sputtered particle flux and a less-collimated sputtered particle flux until a desired deposition thickness is reached. A confining magnetic field may be used to reduce electron losses at process chamber walls, allowing for improved collimation of the collimated flux. The substrate may also be heated or biased during exposure to the less-collimated flux to increase the good side wall and step coverage of the less-collimated flux, and cooled or reverse-biased during exposure to the collimated flux to increase the good bottom coverage of the collimated flux. Alternatively, the substrate may be exposed to only a collimated flux, but good sidewall coverage by be achieved by alternating the temperature and/or bias of the substrate to provide the desired side wall and step coverage.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device has a semiconductor layer; electrodes and a surface protection layer adjacent to the light incident side. Granules of a material different from those of the surface protection layer are disposed in the surface protection layer. The granules in the surface protection layer have an average grain size of 0.001-20 microns, a surface density S from 0.2 to 0.9 and/or a density per volume from 0.001 to 0.5.To produce a surface protecting layer for a photovoltaic device in which the surface protecting layer has granules at a light incident side the surface of a photovoltaic device is painted with a liquid resin containing the granules.

Abstract: A solar cell module is provided which is excellent in foldability and durability. The filler thickness in the downwardly facing parts, engagement parts, and upwardly facing folded parts of the solar cell module are made thinner than the filler that is placed at the other non-folded parts.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon fired room heater with thermophotovoltaic electric generator has high power outputs without cell overheating and failure. The unit includes a burner for generating a hydrocarbon flame, a catalytic emitter positioned in the hydrocarbon flame for emitting infrared radiation when heated by the flame, a receiver positioned around the catalytic emitter for receiving the infrared radiation and for converting the infrared radiation to electric power, an exhaust chimney positioned adjacent the receiver, and air draw ducts having uncovered tops, upper parts, and lower parts and positioned adjacent the chimney and the receiver for directing heat up and away from the receiver. The chimney is positioned directly above the top edge of the receiver, and the air draw ducts are positioned adjacent the receiver and chimney for defining air draw channels. Each air draw duct is a generally U-shaped member having a pair of side walls and a boundary wall extending between the side walls.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprising a photovoltaic element (solar cell) enclosed by a filler material and a coating material having a three-layered structure which is disposed on the light receiving side of the photovoltaic element, wherein said coating element includes a hard resin layer having a hardness of at least 50 in Shore hardness D; and adhesive layer having the functions of absorbing ultraviolet rays of wavelengths which deteriorate said hard resin layer and of transmitting ultraviolet rays necessary for electrical power generation by the photovoltaic element, and also having an adhesive function; and an outermost layer of excellent weatherability (the resin itself having excellent stability against heat, light, and moisture, the hard resin layer, adhesive layer, and outermost layer being laminated in this order on the filler material covering the light receiving surface of the photovoltaic element.

Abstract: Sputtering apparatus and method suitable for forming a step coating on a workpiece. A workpiece is supported in a chamber, particles are emitted from a sputtering source, and the particles are passed through a collimating filter having a plurality of transmissive cells positioned between the sputtering source and the workpiece to limit the angles at which the particles can be deposited onto the workpiece. The collimating filter varies in height from a center portion to an outer portion while preferably maintaining a constant cell aspect ratio.

Abstract: A mantle or emitter used to illuminate a photovoltaic cell. In one embodit, a tubular mantle or emitter is made of a composite structure including a rare-earth material, such as ytterbium oxide, covering a porous ceramic, such as alumina or zirconia, formed on a metal or ceramic support mesh. A hydrocarbon fuel-air mixture is forced into the mantle causing combustion and the rare-earth material to heat up to incandescent temperature, creating a highly radiant selective emitting surface. In another embodiment, a tubular burner-emitter having a mantle surrounded by an inner and outer glass tube permits the preheating of air used for combustion within a toroidal gap formed by the inner and outer glass tubes. In another embodiment, a tubular burner-emitter is used in combination with hinged photovoltaic cells or solar panels so that the photovoltaic cells can be positioned around the burner-emitter so that electromagnetic radiation from the burner-emitter causes the photovoltaic cells to create electrical energy.